By Emily Goddard

Harry Meade and Wild Lone will compete on the British team at the 2014 World Equestrian Games ©Getty ImagesHarry Meade and Nicola Wilson have been named on the British eventing squad for this year's World Equestrian Games following the withdrawal of Olympic medallist Pippa Funnell and Izzy Taylor because of injury.

The pair will now join multiple Olympic, world and European medallist William Fox-Pitt, his fellow London 2012 team mates Zara Phillips and Tina Cook, and Oliver Townend at the flagship International Equestrian Federation competition in Normandy later this month.

Meade, a member of the world-class development squad but who shattered both his elbows following a fall across country last year, will be making his first senior team appearance with Wild Lone, while Wilson will return with Annie Clover.

"I am delighted to be selected to represent Britain at this year's WEG; it has been a lifelong aim to ride on the senior team, so I am obviously really excited about the opportunity," Meade said.

"It has been a rollercoaster of a year for me and my support team.

"Whilst incapacitated over the winter the thought of competing at WEG this year couldn't have been further from my mind.

"I really feel for both Izzy and Pippa who must be so disappointed; it's never nice to gain from a situation where others miss out."

Nicola Wilson and Harry Meade complete the British eventing team for Normandy 2014 ©Getty ImagesNicola Wilson and Harry Meade complete the British eventing team for Normandy 2014
©Getty Images



Wilson was equally disappointed for Funnell and Taylor.

"I was devastated to hear about both Izzy and Pippa having to withdraw their horses from the squad," she said.

"The build up to WEG this year really has been so difficult for everyone involved with the team.

"I am of course delighted that Annie Clover has been selected to go to WEG, she is a horse that my mum bought as a four year old and I have always thought so much of her.

"She is still only a young horse [10 years old] but we have built up a strong partnership over the last six years and she has been so consistent in all of her three day events to date.

"Fingers tightly crossed that the next few weeks go smoothly and we can go out and do everyone proud."

The World Equestrian Games are scheduled to take place from August 23 to September 7.

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